A New Juggling Record

Peter Jan Beek's and Arthur Lewbel's article "The Science of Juggling" in Scientific American magazine, which studies juggling in the context of human movement science, robotics and mathematics, has been translated in all the foreign language editions of the magazine.

Since not all foreign Scientific American editions copy 1:1 the American one, the fact that the article was taken over into all editions shows that it has been appreciated by all editors. I think that's quite remarkable even if we take into account the exotic nature of the article's subject. In any case Arthur Lewbel, Peter Jan Beek and Tony Duncan (who did the blind juggling for the stroboscope photographs) have significantly helped spread the idea all over the world that juggling is not only a performing art.

(By the way, after the article was published in the US, the management of Scientific American presented juggling balls to the editorial staff in New York and it seems that some sort of juggling fever broke out there...)

Being published in nine languages seems to make the article the most translated publication about juggling ever written. As far as I know, no other juggling article or book has ever been published in more than three languages.

It's very likely that we have a clear new juggling record!

Teach, and Let the Chicken Feathers Fly!

I had the opportunity to attend my first IJA festival in Rapid City, and felt it was a job well done. I met numerous other jugglers and learned that many, like myself, spend time teaching people how to juggle. One subject of frequent discussion was the challenge of providing equipment to learners, and then how to get it all returned when the session ends.

I travel throughout the state of Kansas teaching people to juggle, and have come up with a solution that works for me. I purchase picnic napkins (the cheap 5" x 5" size). You can buy 200 for a dollar, and they act like scarves in helping students learn the basic concepts of juggling. Individuals who advance to the next level of juggling can crumple up the napkins and use them like a ball.

The feeling a juggler receives when teaching a class of 300 people with 900 napkins in the air is fantastic! It looks like walking into a chicken house with feathers flying everywhere! The only down side of using napkins is reminding everyone not to throw them on the floor at the end. But I have incorporated a short lesson on recycling and the importance of not littering into my lesson.

If you want to talk about. this idea, call or write me.   

Top Ten Reasons Jugglers Should Give Blood

1. Less to spill when you're juggling knives.

2. You can't juggle when giving.

3. You get to juggle cookies at the blood bank.

4. You feel as good as if you just flashed seven.

5. You know you're helping someone else live to juggle.

6. It's like juggling, everyone there is bleeding.

7. More girls donate blood than juggle.

8. Like juggling, it's safer than sex.

9. Like juggling, not everyone can do it.

10. Start now and catch up with Myron (age 70), who's given 109 gallons so far!

Let's Redirect Rewards to Performers

For some time I have felt the emphasis on technical exercises to be the misguided main focus of the IJA. Just as figure skating dropped its requirement that skaters do technical moves such as figure eights, we need to move in a new direction.

I propose starting J .E.A.P. (Jugglers as Entertainers and Artistic Professionals), within the IJA. The group will be dedicated to celebrating fine performances and performers who see juggling as a vehicle to entertain people and/or as a contemporary art form. Awards would be handed out at festivals by the group itself. As the group gains members, I'm convinced it will become a major power within the IJA. Indeed, it will play a major role in shaping the future of how juggling is viewed by everyone. I would like jugglers interested in becoming part of JEAP to contact me. I pledge $50 toward awarding deserving (JEAP style) performers at the 1997 IJA festival.

The time for JEAP is now. Artistry and entertainment should be more celebrated in the juggling world. The IJA already celebrates juggling as sport. Let's make sure the rest of juggling's best performances and performers are celebrated as well.

If You Join 'Em, You Might Marry 'Em!

Where are the lady jugglers? We women. of the 90's are naturals! Isn't a fulltime job, taxiing the kids, making dinner, balancing the checkbook, looking in on the elderly neighbor, baking brownies for the school party and doing three loads of laundry the same as a seven ring flash??!

Learning to juggle for me began as a challenge to keep up with my 12-year-old son, Matthew. Eleven-year-old sister Irene is never one to be left out, so she became determined to juggle, too. I found juggling to be a great way to connect With the kids and also a great stress reliever for the daily "juggle of life" as a single mom. End of story? Not quite!

Joining the local juggling club last winter brought me camaraderie, challenges and fun, despite being in the gender minority. It was at juggling group that I met IJA member, Alan "Mr. Tricks" Tilove. Alan taught me those three great rules for partner juggling: never look away, never lose count and never say sorry. (Wasn't that in a love story?!)

My juggling club experience has become a love story, for Alan decided to end his lifelong bachelorhood and soon I will be "Mrs. Tricks!" Matt is now close to succeeding at four ball juggling and Irene is unicycling her way around the whole family, thanks to Alan's encouragement.

T.I. Cheek suggestions to turn the minority problem into a plus may work for you too!